Auto Maker Says In-House Attorney Advising Safety Chief

General Motors Co. Chief Executive Mary Barra returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to brief Sen. Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.) and other lawmakers in private on the auto maker's efforts to answer their questions about delays in recalling cars with defective ignition switches.

Separately, GM took another step in its effort to speed future responses to safety defects, assigning a senior lawyer to work directly with its newly-appointed...